Bike wont stay running

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crassius

Well-Known Member
Sep 30, 2012
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mufflers do that - hit it with some high-temp black paint every once in a while

in last pic, it looks like your front mount isn't solid to the frame, that can cause a whole bunch o' problems with poor running
 

jerry campo

Member
Sep 24, 2018
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i see. as far as the front mount goes, it seems to be pretty sturdy to me, i think the picture cuts off the rest of the structure so its hard to see. or is there something i didnt catch?
 

crassius

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Sep 30, 2012
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looks like if you took the bolt thru frame off and took the u-bolt off, then motor would not be sitting on anything in the front - this would allow vibration to push it down a bit and then back up

a piece of pipe on that bolt thru frame would at least give it something to be tight against, but I'd have just mounted it much lower in first place

looks like you're just pulling it forward against the pull from back mount
 

jerry campo

Member
Sep 24, 2018
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gotcha, I just bought it like that. do im not sure what the PO was thinking. i hope it doesnt give me any trouble though.
 

crassius

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Sep 30, 2012
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it will if you don't fix it or redo it - easy to cut a piece of water pipe, take out bolt, put in piece of pipe and tighten bolt to sit on the pipe - if it doesn't wobble on frame, it might work OK
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
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Not sure if it's the picture, but is the fuel line real close to the head? Gets pretty hot.

Don't ask me how I know or why it worries me.
(or to show you the scars, LoL)
 

jerry campo

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Sep 24, 2018
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yes its very close to the head, the plastic is quite thick, and it only touches the cooling fins anyhow. hasnt given me any problems though. By the way, what is a general top speed for these things?? i stay in the 15 mph range as im afraid 25 or even 20 may be pretty damaging to the engine, especially with the wrong oil/gas ratio.
 

jerry campo

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Sep 24, 2018
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yeah, better to be safe than sorry. and yes the carb is pretty level, or at least as leveled as i can get it
 

Dan

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May 25, 2008
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LoL, way, way back. After literally weeks of like 3 of us helping a guy with the same sorta difficulty. Back and forth... every day. Got so I dreaded opening the page knowing this poor SOB (son of a bicyclist) was trying his heart out and we had just had him do everything short of Total teardown and that was next.
It was the old forum software and loading pictures was a beyotch. But suggested it anyway. Another day or 2. Guy was really pretty smart just thos is a pain in text.

After loads pics. Very bright guy and some of the best tech folks here.

His carb was upside down.

No kidding. Was 2 dang funny
 

crassius

Well-Known Member
Sep 30, 2012
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yeah, had a customer 3 weeks ago - complained that carb leaked - came to shop and I gave him new carb, but couldn't find anything wrong with his - called more times and he finally brought whole bike in - carb was mounted sideways
 

Tom from Rubicon

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Apr 4, 2016
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I really do love this forum, the best and the worst. The veterans helping the newbies. We all are in this for the ride. Jerry Campo, don't assume anything. Regarding your photos. You are running lean on fuel. My guess. Photo your spark plug electrode.
 
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jerry campo

Member
Sep 24, 2018
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ha! upside down carb XD lol. i think i was running lean but i think i've fixed that now. also how would i go about taking the pic? do i just simply unscrew it? any precaution taken? sorry, still in newbie stages.

Also would anyone be able to answer may question about top speed? i've been riding at about 15 mph to be gentle on the motor, but i'd like to go 20 if i can
 
Last edited:

junglepig

Member
Oct 28, 2018
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Georgia
Jerry, your fuel filter looks like it was installed backward. Flow should follow the arrow from the tank to the carb.
I wouldn't reverse this one if it's been on for a while though. Any gunk it has stopped would go straight to your carb.
Just remember for next time you change it.
I would definitely adjust the installation so that the valve and filter and fuel lines are not touching the head or the cylinder. I'm using a much much smaller filter from Briggs and Stratton. And my fuel line is short so that it's a straight shot from tank to filter and carb.

If things are running right, you should easily exceed 20 mph. 30-40 is reasonable. That carb may be gunked up or mis-adjusted. Pull it and look inside as you roll the throttle to be sure your throttle is giving you full travel of the slider and needle. The cable adjustment looks like it's about out of travel as it is. I'm not sure why it's like that. Maybe it's already stretched badly?

But if I bought this and had seen the gunk coming out of the tank that you describe, and it wasn't running great, I'd start with disassembling the carb and cleaning it very well. Make sure the jets are all clean, and that the float is adjusted right. And that the throttle is working over it's full travel. Maybe the throttle cable was not kept lubricated and has been stretched from applying too much force to move it over time?
 

javy mcdees

Active Member
Jul 30, 2018
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mine is such a pos I had to drill every orfice to make fuel flow through it then the valve only works in one position if you touch it it leaks all the gas out. so I never touch it. so far it works to the tune of 120 mpg
1539628606046.jpg
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
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yeah, had a customer 3 weeks ago - complained that carb leaked - came to shop and I gave him new carb, but couldn't find anything wrong with his - called more times and he finally brought whole bike in - carb was mounted sideways
LoL. "That's yer problem right there..."
 

javy mcdees

Active Member
Jul 30, 2018
143
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I fixed my NT carb on my last jet change, used a brass hammer and the new RT carb runs circles around the gas hog NT carb, once the NT carb got enough heat cycles the slide would not fit no more, pos...